Emelia's POVThe air in the room was thick with tension, heavy with the weight of Elijah’s words. My parents, Edward and Amelia, looked like they wanted the floor to swallow them whole. Nora, beside me, seemed to shrink in her seat, her face pale.“My assistant has told me everything which has happened since I had gone abroad to head the company and I'm very disappointed by everything I've seen so far,” Elijah started, his voice cold, sharp enough to cut glass. “Not only did you neglect Emelia despite the amount of warning that I gave after I left, you also ignored her, and treated your fake daughter like a jewel while making Emelia seem like trash. I watched the footage of Emelia getting beaten after being accused of stealing Nora's jewellery. Why didn't you investigate before accusing her? Did you ever think that maybe, Emelia could be innocent? You were only trusting whatever Nora told you, despite all the loopholes?” His voice got louder the more he spoke, each word a hammer blow
Emelia’s Pov “Emelia?” Liam's voice broke me out of my reverie and I turned back to stare at him, my gaze lingering for a moment. “When did you come back?” He asked, he still looked very sleepy. Why did he wake up if he was still sleepy? “Just now. You've gotten discharged from the hospital?” I asked, it was a stupid question but I didn't know what else to say anyways. “Yes. The nurses said I can be cleared to go. I'm being quite nice. Also, Elijah asked me to bring you to him, he said he needed to talk to you about something. He said it was very urgent.” Liam paused for a moment, he wanted to say something but looked unsure. I sighed, “Just go ahead and say whatever it is that you want to say.” “Well… Jeremy and Damien are in the house as well. It's more like we are having a family meeting. Nora will be there too.” “A family meeting?” I repeated. Liam nodded and I frowned, “Why? Did something happen?” “Well, Elijah got wind of what dad did to Grandfather. He was able to figu
Emelia's POVThe first thing I registered was the soft, unfamiliar texture of the sheets beneath me. Then came the warmth, a solid, comforting heat radiating from my side. My eyelids fluttered open, adjusting to the dim morning light filtering through unfamiliar curtains.And there he was. Kaidon.He was sprawled on his back, a picture of peaceful slumber. His chest, broad and sculpted, rose and fell with each steady breath. No shirt. Just smooth, sun-kissed skin stretched taut over hard muscle. My gaze traced the faint lines of his abs, down to the waistband of his sweatpants. He looked so utterly relaxed, so vulnerable, a stark contrast to his usual guarded intensity.A strange, insistent urge bubbled within me. Slowly, tentatively, I reached out a hand. My fingertips brushed against his chest, the warmth immediately seeping into my skin. His skin was so soft, yet firm, and I could feel the steady thrum of his heartbeat beneath my touch. A shiver, not of cold, but of something else
Kaidon’s Pov“Sweetheart?” I repeated, my voice a mix of surprise and a growing sense of dread. Emelia was a clinging vine, her arms wrapped tightly around my neck, her legs hooked around my waist. The strong scent of alcohol wafted from her, confirming my worst fears. She was completely intoxicated."You're here! I missed you!" She chirped, her voice muffled against my shoulder. Then, without any warning, she tilted her head back and pressed her lips to mine.My mind went blank for a second, then snapped back to attention. This wasn't right. I gently but firmly pushed her away, detaching her from me. She stumbled back a step, looking disoriented."Emelia, you're drunk." I stated, the words coming out more curtly than I intended, but the situation demanded directness.Her lower lip began to tremble, "No, I'm not!" She insisted, though her swaying posture argued otherwise. She tried to step closer, her eyes wide and watery, "Don't leave me, Kaidon!""I'm not leaving you." I said, tryin
Emelia’s Pov I wouldn't reject this kind of amount, not ever. But it was just too shocking. I have never held this much money. Well, apart from the amount Kaidon sent to me which by the way, I'm still scared off so I haven't spent a lot of the money yet. I raised my head to stare at Kevin who shrugged, “It's not even the end of it. Coupled with the fact that you'll have the shares; that is if you agree to it…” “Agree! I agree! You don't need to say much! I'll take the shares.” Of course I'll take it, are you kidding me?? There's no way he's going to deceive me since Kaidon brought me here himself and judging by the look on his face, it's clear that Kaidon already knew that this was going to happen. They might have planned it together too. Kevin chuckled, “You're just as Kaidon said. You really don't let anything that has to do with money slip by. You can just sign your name at the bottom of the document. A few days later, we'll introduce you as a shareholder during the company ann
Emelia's Pov Kevin leaned forward, his brow furrowed in a mixture of confusion and curiosity, "Pardon? Could you repeat that, Emelia?" He asked, his voice low and earnest.I snapped my gaze from the photograph to him, a jolt of alarm shooting through me. Had I really said that out loud? My face felt hot, “Oh, no, no, don’t worry about it,” I quickly blurted out, waving a dismissive hand. “I must have seen it wrongly. Just… a trick of the light, perhaps.”Kevin studied me for a moment, his gaze sharp, as if trying to peer into my thoughts. He looked like he wanted to press the issue, to ask something more, but then, with a subtle clenching of his jaw, he held himself back. A flicker of something unreadable crossed his features, perhaps resignation, perhaps a calculated patience.“Alright.” He said, his voice regaining its earlier, smoother tone. He gestured towards a plush, executive-style armchair opposite his desk, “Please, have a seat. Make yourself comfortable.”I gratefully sank